I did some minor research into the Finnstep, since I had no idea of what it was.

The Finnstep is a quickstep dance. It got it's name from its inventors, Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko. Now, there's a blast from the past! They debuted this dance as their Original Dance at the 1995 European Championships. It was later adapted to a Compulsary Dance. Of course, now it's being included as part of the Short Dance in the Olympic year.

How great that Rahkamo and Kokko have gained ice dancing immortality. I loved them as a team. I hope all the skaters can rise to the occasion and conquer their fears on this one. Too bad we can't have Rahkomo and Kokko show up to skate a demonstration of it.

I hope that no one suffers the fate of Rubleva & Shefer RUS while dancing the Finnstep. It's a very bouncy dance. One of the straps important for keepin her costume on broke, and thus was a Youtube sensation born, poor things. They were very good sports about it.

How great that Rahkamo and Kokko have gained ice dancing immortality. I loved them as a team. I hope all the skaters can rise to the occasion and conquer their fears on this one. Too bad we can't have Rahkomo and Kokko show up to skate a demonstration of it.

Oh, I did, too! They were crowd-pleasers. How nice that they finally won the Europeans and two WC Medals, especially back in the day when Ice Dancing placements simply did not shift.

Even more pleasing was that they did not come from a traditional skating powerhouse. Nowadays we see champions from places like Spain and Korea, but it was a rarity back then. Think what they accomplished with very little federation help (I assume).

Finnstep is a fantastic compulsory dance. It's very difficult but not in a "pointlessly difficult Midnight Blues way". The way steps go together actually makes sense and it's light, breezy and bouncy if performed well.

Originally Posted by TontoK

Think what they accomplished with very little federation help (I assume).

I am not sure but I would guess that they had quite substantial help from their federation given Finland is very rich country with big social spending.

Now that is a compulsory dance. Wow, certainly one of the hardest I've ever seen. But the great thing about it is that it actually looks like a fun, quickstep dance instead of a compulsory routine with technical turns. Here's Virtue/Moir doing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWHgSYl7pvk

"When you think of this dance, I'd like you to think of sparkling champagne and crystal clarity," Kokko told the assembled press. "The steps themselves aren't very difficult, but the timing is crucial. It's hard to do it properly. For example, the footwork is fast and precise, but all the movement is coming from the knees while the upper body remains stiff. The holds have to be strictly maintained throughout the entire dance . . . its very ballroom."

Sadly, it was only used twice, at 2009 Euros and 4CCs. If we've been deprived of the Finnstep as a CD, at least it'll make a comeback as an SD pattern... it'll only be about a million times better than the YP.

Originally Posted by TontoK

I did some minor research into the Finnstep, since I had no idea of what it was.

The Finnstep is a quickstep dance. It got it's name from its inventors, Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko. Now, there's a blast from the past! They debuted this dance as their Original Dance at the 1995 European Championships. It was later adapted to a Compulsary Dance. Of course, now it's being included as part of the Short Dance in the Olympic year.

Sadly, it was only used twice, at 2009 Euros and 4CCs. If we've been deprived of the Finnstep as a CD, at least it'll make a comeback as an SD pattern... it'll only be about a million times better than the YP.

This was the time when I adored the ice dance! Where is twizzle? Thanks God there is no...

In compulsory patterns, are the dancers expected to hit every one of these turns and edges in perfect precision and right to the beat?

In a word "yes", but that is the case for every set pattern dance from the simple "Dutch Waltz" (first basic dance every skater must learn) to the more complicated such as the above "Finnstep." Thank goodness I missed this one. If you listen to Tracy Wilson's commentary on Ice Dance she points out that Ice Dancers are conditioned to do difficult steps and precise edges. In fact, they live for challenging dances like this. Think of the set pattern dance as the figures of ice dancers. They are to ice dancers what figures mean to single skaters. If ice dancers can master these steps and remember these steps and patterns when they are training then it prepares them for their short and long programs if they choose to compete on that level. Even Kurt Browning said during his coverage of 4 continents ice dance that single skaters from his day could likely not master the difficult twizzle move on done in both directions by the ice dancers of today. That saying a lot!!

Pattern Dance Element is not interrupted more than 4 beats in total, either through Stumbles, Falls or any other reason
AND
1 Key Point is correctly executed

For level 3

Pattern Dance Element is not interrupted more than 4 beats in total, either through Stumbles, Falls or any other reason
AND
2 Key Points are correctly executed

For level 4

Pattern Dance Element is not interrupted at all, either through Stumbles, Falls or any other reason
AND
3 Key Points are correctly executed

To get credit for a key point, the step(s) involved must be executed exactly as described in the rules. If this is true, you will see a Y for that key point on the protocol. If not executed correctly, you will see an N for that key point

If the step is done correctly, but not on the correct beat of the music, the key point is not completed for the purpose of assigning a level, and you will see a T (for timing fault) for that key point.

Note from the rules, even if the key points are judged correctly completed, including being on the correct beat of the music, the team will not earn a level 4 unless all the other steps are done.